GoKawiilMcKinsey trials AI client simulation in entry-level job interviews
McKinsey & Company will have some entry-level candidates for business-analyst roles complete a 10-minute conversation with an AI-simulated client as part of its interview process, according to The Wall Street Journal. The simulation is meant to reflect about 80% of scenarios consultants typically face, not to stress-test applicants with extreme behavior, and human interviewers—not the AI—will evaluate performance. The pilot runs this fall in select North American offices and could involve hundreds of undergraduate applicants.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The move reflects a broader trend of companies experimenting with AI avatars to standardize or scale parts of hiring, which could change how entry-level candidates prepare for interviews. Because humans still grade the interaction, McKinsey appears to be using AI as a scenario-generation tool rather than an automated judge, though how this affects candidate experience and fairness remains untested at scale.
- McKinsey will test a 10-minute AI client simulation for some entry-level interviews starting this fall.
- Human assessors, not the AI, will score candidates' performance in the simulated scenarios.
- The pilot targets North American business-analyst applicants and may involve hundreds of candidates.
Source: theverge.com — Jay Peters, 2026-10-14
Published there as: “McKinsey is making job applicants spar with a fake AI client”
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